2018 College Football Playoff National Championship
2018 College Football Playoff National Championship presented by AT&T | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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4th College Football Playoff National Championship | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date | January 8, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Season | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Announcers | Lalo Varela and Pablo Viruega (ESPN Deportes) Kenneth Garay and Sebastian Martinez (ESPN Deportes Radio) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship was a
The
The College Football Playoff selection committee chose the semifinalists following the conclusion of the 2017 regular season. Alabama and Georgia advanced to the national championship after winning the semifinal games hosted by the Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl Game respectively on January 1, 2018.
Background
The Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia was announced as the host site for the fourth College Football National Championship on November 4, 2015.[3]
2018 College Football Playoff
The College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee selected four teams to advance to the playoff: the Clemson Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, Georgia Bulldogs, and Alabama Crimson Tide.[4] The semifinals were played on January 1, 2018. The first semifinal, played at the Rose Bowl, Georgia won 54–48, after a 27-yard run by Sony Michel, shortly after a blocked Oklahoma field goal in the second overtime. In the second semifinal, played at the Sugar Bowl, Alabama defeated defending national champion Clemson 24–6.
Semifinals | Championship | |||||||
January 1 – Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans
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1 | Clemson | 6 | ||||||
4 | Alabama | 24 | January 8 – ChampionshipMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | |||||
4 | Alabama (OT) | 26 | ||||||
January 1 – Rose BowlRose Bowl, Pasadena | 3 | Georgia | 23 | |||||
2 | Oklahoma | 48 | ||||||
3 | Georgia (2OT) | 54 |
Teams
The 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship featured the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide and the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs. It was the teams' 68th meeting, with Alabama leading the series 37-25-4.
Alabama
The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Clemson Tigers in the 2018 Sugar Bowl by a score of 24–6 to reach the championship game. The Tide had a 12–1 season, becoming the SEC West Division co-champions with the Auburn Tigers. The Crimson Tide were coached by Nick Saban.[5]
Georgia
The Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2018 Rose Bowl by a score of 54–48 in double overtime to reach the championship game. The Bulldogs had a 13–1 season claiming their 13th Southeastern Conference (SEC) championship with a rematch victory over the Auburn Tigers, 28–7. The Bulldogs were coached by Kirby Smart.[6]
Starting lineups
Alabama | Position | Position | Georgia |
---|---|---|---|
Offense | |||
Calvin Ridley 1 | WR | Javon Wims 7 | |
Cam Sims | WR | Riley Ridley 4 | |
Jonah Williams 1 | LT |
Isaiah Wynn 1 | |
Ross Pierschbacher 5 | LG |
Kendall Baker | |
Bradley Bozeman 6 | C |
Lamont Gaillard 6 | |
J. C. Hassenauer | RG |
Ben Cleveland 3 | |
Matt Womack | RT |
Andrew Thomas 1 | |
Hale Hentges | TE | TB | Nick Chubb 2 |
Robert Foster | WR | Terry Godwin 7 | |
Jalen Hurts 2 | QB | Jake Fromm 5 | |
Damien Harris 3 | RB | Sony Michel 1 | |
Defense | |||
Da'Shawn Hand 4 | DE | David Marshall | |
Daron Payne 1 | NG |
John Atkins | |
Isaiah Buggs 6 | DL |
DT | Tyler Clark |
Terrell Lewis 3 | SLB |
LB | Davin Bellamy |
Mack Wilson 5 | MLB |
LB | Reggie Carter |
Rashaan Evans 1 | WLB |
LB | † Roquan Smith 1 |
Deionte Thompson 5 | DB | Malkom Parrish | |
Anthony Averett 4 | CB | Deandre Baker 1 | |
Levi Wallace | CB | Aaron Davis | |
† Minkah Fitzpatrick 1 | SS |
S | Dominick Sanders |
Ronnie Harrison 3 | FS |
CB | J. R. Reed
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† = 2017 All-American | |||
Selected in an NFL Draft (number corresponds to draft round) |
Source:[7]
Game summary
First half
After winning the
After a failed third down conversion, on the second play of the second quarter, Georgia kicker
Second half
Because they deferred the coin toss, Alabama received the ball first in the second half. They started their drive on their own 22-yard-line. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama's backup quarterback, started the second half for the Tide; that drive quickly resulted in a three-and-out. The initial punt was blocked, but an offside call gave the Tide another chance to punt. Georgia started their drive on their own 36-yard-line, but punted on 4th & 17. Alabama took over on their own 44-yard-line.[8] The teams then traded touchdowns on consecutive drives; Alabama scored their first points of the game on a 6-yard pass from Tagovailoa to Ruggs, but Georgia immediately responded with an 80-yard touchdown connection from Fromm to Mecole Hardman, putting Georgia up 20–7. On the second play of Alabama's ensuing drive, Tagovailoa, while scrambling to the left, threw into traffic and was intercepted by Georgia's Deandre Baker. Up 13, the Bulldogs took over possession of the ball on Alabama's 39-yard-line. The Tide defense responded immediately, however, as Raekwon Davis intercepted a Jake Fromm pass on the first play of Georgia's drive, returning the pick to the UGA 40-yard-line. The Tide gained fifteen yards on six plays and kicker Andy Pappanastos avenged his earlier miss with a 43-yard field goal that put Bama within ten. The teams then traded punts. Just prior to Alabama's punt, it was announced that an Alabama defensive back, Kyriq McDonald, had collapsed on the sideline; the situation was described as a "serious medical emergency". He was loaded onto a medical stretcher awake and conscious. Georgia could not muster anything on offense that drive, and punted. The fourth quarter saw Tagovailoa lead the Tide to come back and tie the game at 20 with 3:49. Alabama regained possession, and with three seconds remaining in the game, Andy Pappanastos missed a potential game-winning 36-yard field goal wide left, sending the CFP Championship to overtime, the first in the era.[8]
Overtime
In overtime, Georgia had an unsuccessful drive that resulted in both a three-and-out, and a 13-yard loss sack to Fromm. Georgia opted to attempt a 51-yard field goal, which they made. On Alabama's first offensive play in overtime, Tagovailoa was sacked for a 16-yard loss, but immediately followed that with a game-winning 41-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith, in a play that has since been called 2nd and 26 by fans.[8] Tagovailoa was named the offensive player of the game, and Daron Payne was named the defensive player of the game.[9]
Scoring summary
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
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No. 4 Alabama | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 26 |
No. 3 Georgia | 0 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 23 |
at
- Date: Monday, January 8, 2018
- Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Indoors
- Game attendance: 77,430
- Referee: Dan Capron (Big Ten)
- TV announcers (ESPN): Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Maria Taylor and Tom Rinaldi (sidelines)
- Box score
Scoring summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Statistics
Statistics | Alabama | Georgia |
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First downs | 20 | 22 |
Plays–yards | 71–371 | 77–365 |
Rushes–yards | 39–184 | 45–133 |
Passing yards | 187 | 232 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 17–32–1 | 16–32–2 |
Time of possession | 26:17 | 33:43 |
Sources: ESPN, StatBroadcast |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Alabama | Passing | Tua Tagovailoa | 14/24, 166 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | Najee Harris | 6 car, 64 yds | |
Receiving | Calvin Ridley | 4 rec, 32 yds, 1 TD | |
Georgia | Passing | Jake Fromm | 16/32, 232 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | Sony Michel | 14 car, 98 yds | |
Receiving | Riley Ridley | 6 rec, 82 yds | |
Sources: ESPN, StatBroadcast |
Broadcasting
The game was televised nationally by ESPN and ESPN Radio. On January 8, 2018, the network announced that its broadcast would feature a live performance by Kendrick Lamar during halftime. This performance was separate from the event proper at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (which featured a traditional halftime show with the marching bands of the participating teams), and originated from Centennial Olympic Park.[10]
See also
- Alabama–Georgia football rivalry
- College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS
- Super Bowl LIII, the NFL championship game contested at the same venue on February 3, 2019
References
- ^ Kirshner, Alex (January 8, 2018). "A Big Ten officiating crew is working the all-SEC National Championship". SBNation.com. SB Nation. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
- ^ Volner, Derek (January 9, 2018). "Epic College Football Playoff National Championship Delivers Massive 16.7 Overnight, Up 9% Year-Over-Year". www.espnmediazone.com. ESPN MediaZone. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
- ^ Alex Scarbrough (November 4, 2015). "Atlanta, Santa Clara and New Orleans land CFP title games for 2018–20". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
- ^ "Selection Committee Rankings: Final Top 25 Rankings" (PDF). College Football Playoff. December 3, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
- ^ "Alabama's Sugar Bowl win against Clemson sets up all-SEC final: Final score, stats, analysis". nola.com. January 1, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
- ^ Emerson, Seth (January 1, 2018). "Georgia to play for national championship after Rose Bowl win in 2 OT". ajc.com. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
- ^ "CFP National Championship Game Book" (PDF). January 8, 2018. p. 5. Retrieved January 20, 2019 – via rolltide.com.
- ^ a b c d e Hoffman, Benjamin; Drape, Joe; Tracy, Marc (January 8, 2018). "National Championship Game: Georgia vs. Alabama Live Score". The New York Times. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
- ^ Perez, A.J. (January 9, 2018). "CFP players of the game: Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa and Daron Payne". USA Today. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
- ^ "Kendrick Lamar to Perform at College Football Playoff Title Game". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
External links
- Media related to 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship at Wikimedia Commons